10.11.09: Race For The Taste & Food & Wine Festival

I participated in the Race for the Taste 3K today and had a great time!! 

Kind of neat to see EPCOT and the World Showcase empty, but great 

googly-boogly was it freakin' hot. Bringin' home the plastic baby!!!

For 2010 they will "enhance" the Food & Wine Festival by offering a Wine & Dine Half Marathon. I'd like to think of it as an opportunity to run off the calories you're about to consume. But since I no longer run, this is just an opportunity to consume. This festival has to be one of my favorite things that Disney does, hands down. 

All around World Showcase there are kiosks from different countries which offer wine, beer, champagne and food samples from that region. 

This happened to be a cheese 

kioski...Mickey Mouse...get it?

Besides a sense of humor and a strong liver, you need three things...so head over to the Wonders of Life pavilion to get started.

First you need the wrist band/gift card. The card itself is free, but you load it with a specific dollar amount and use it to make your food and beverage purchases. Why is this so important? It keeps you from having credit card sticker shock after your vacation and you don't have to mess with cash. Every time you make a purchase it gives your card balance at the bottom of the receipt. You can reload them at any location and they can be used to make any type purchase on Disney property. Also, it goes on your wrist for easy access. After about three countries you'll be glad the ONLY thing you have to keep up with is yourself. 

Second thing you need is a guide map. Third thing is about a 1/2 hour to sit and make an attack plan. I went solo but still did this. The guide lists everything that's being offered...and I do mean everything.  I just put a * next the stuff that I knew I didn't want to miss. 


Here are a few of the things that called to me...

Wellington, New Zealand 

Seared sea scallop with vegetable slaw and lemon oil

Paris, France

Braised short ribs in Cabernet with mashed potatoes

Montreal, Canada

Spicy chicken sausage with sweet corn polenta

Melbourne, Australia

Lamb chop with red wine sauce and 

Murray River sea salt with Rosemont Pinot Noir

Oh and lets not forget this...

Cork Ireland 

Warm chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey's ganache.

I-T I-S P-H-E-N-O-M-I-N-A-L

There is also lots of food related art...

Not to mention cooking seminars, wine seminars, food & wine pairing 

parties, and a whole "Eat to the Beat" concert series. A little something for everyone!

Plan to make this a long weekend trip and grab a group of your alcoholic friends and foodies and head down to Orlando for a most memorable festival!!


Bon Appetit !!